The TCR will be a better all-rounder. At all model levels it's a lighter frame than the equivalent Propel, will have a smoother ride thanks to different tube profiles and layup, and will offer better adjustability thanks to normal round-section handlebars and correspondingly greater range of stems, although OD2 oversized steerer on Advanced Pro and SL models will still limit things a bit. That's not to say the Propel is a bad bike, it isn't by any stretch, but it is a very focused machine in its purpose and may be compromised when other considerations come into play.

bianchi928 wrote:I still ride my Propel and it's a great bike but I am considering eventually switching to a TCR for (I think the Advanced pro 1 is exceptional value) an all around bike, especially for climbing.

Cheers

The Advanced pro 1 is the exact model I'm looking at, I was quoted $3600 for the 2018 which has the carbon wheels, full mech Ultegra (with an 11-30 cassette this year which'll help me) and should be under 7.5kg for the large I'll need. I want it for an all rounder but mainly so I can flog myself up the hills.I'm leaning towards a light bike as I'm so skinny, I can't lose weight off myself like people usually tell you to do!

How does the Propel go at climbing? Does the power delivery compensate for the slight extra weight?

When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

How does the Propel go at climbing? Does the power delivery compensate for the slight extra weight?

I reckon it climbs ok (I am no lightweight however) but I do think my previous TCR (2012) climbed better. The latest Advanced Pro 1 TCR seems to be even better, which is leading me toward that.

The TT club has a summer series in Kings Park which is basically a hot dog loop with a climb up one side and also TT's in the Hills. Both are on pretty rough roads which are other reasons I am looking at the TCR.

I feel the Propel is a lot "zippier" than my Domane (makes sense given the more endurance geometry) and I enjoy riding the Propel more.

That said, I need to sell my Domane first and if it takes a while, I have no dramas keeping with my Propel until then.

Like many of you, I was actually after a TCR, thinking I’d had my “aero” bike phase (with my previous 08 Cervelo Soloist, which had carbon tubs, Dura Ace, Etc however I found to flex too much in the turns particularly descending) and wanted a purer all round road/climbing bike.

I’ve had a ‘14 aluminium Defy, which I found to be too lazy in the turns, lots of high end steel bikes from the 80’s/90’s, cannondale CAAD’s, carbon 90’s Kestrels, and ridden a lot of high end euro carbon stuff recently borrowing from friends. My budget didn’t extend to a pinarello or such, and I rated the humble TCR very highly.

However I missed out on a couple of newer TCR’s and my wife found my Propel on a market place listing on Facebook at a good price.

However I endlessly worried about the aluminium fork steerer (different bearing sizes to the full carbon models, integrated brakes - essentially no upgrade path) the extra weight, and what the brakes would be like (again no upgrade path) and how it would feel in the hills being an “aero” bike.

Then I rode it, and got a quick schooling on just how good modern carbon fibre bikes are - even at this price point/mid level.

The extra weight just didn’t seem to matter so much, the 11 speed Ultegra was infinitely more intuitive to cadence/pacing up climbs than my old 10 speed Dura Ace, and the stiffness of the back end and head tube was a revelation compared to my older bikes.

I got it at crazy price needing a thorough tidy up, and new tyres. The front wheel was out of true also and it was filthy.

So I bought it, still with some trepidation, feeling if it all went to pot I could keep the Ultegra and reframe it.

I spent the weekend stripping, cleaning, re-assembling, cut the fork steerer, trimmed the cables and set it up properly with a couple of upgrades (FSA SL-K carbon cockpit and my Fizik saddle I kept from my Cervelo).

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